He takes part in media interviews. Asked about the favourites for the ongoing Champions League, the 18-year-old player dismisses Real Madrid in style.
He has undoubtedly been one of the main attractions in La Liga for months. Building on his impressive last season and a successful Euro 2024, Lamine Yamal has firmly established himself as a key player for FC Barcelona. This season, although he has struggled to score many goals, the young winger has played a crucial role in Barça’s strong performances with his assists and ability to destabilise defences. Given his team’s solid campaign in La Liga and the Champions League, the 18-year-old already sees himself as the future European champion… despite the continued presence of Real Madrid.
Yamal leaves Real Madrid behind
Speaking to the newspaper Sport, Lamine Yamal insists that after Liverpool’s elimination—who, according to him, were the main favourites to win the Champions League this season—it is now Barça who are on course for the ultimate triumph. “We are the favourites for the Champions League. At the end of the group stage, I said Liverpool were favourites because they finished first, and now that they are out, it’s us,” he confidently stated.
The Barça player assures that he fears no rival, not even Real Madrid, given his team’s recent performances, where they have made light work of their opponents. “Matches against Real Madrid are very exciting, and we are the team that hurts them the most. And vice versa,” Yamal emphasised. Despite some difficult matches where they were caught off guard, the Spanish international no longer wants people to expect the same disaster they suffered against PSG last season. “We are a different team from last year, when we lost to PSG.”
A statement that infuriates Madrid fans
Following the young Catalan’s bold remarks, several Madrid fans have reacted. On social media, many argue that Lamine Yamal is speaking too soon and forgetting that Real Madrid is an entirely different side in the Champions League. Having been beaten in La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup this season, Madridistas are determined not to be outclassed by Barça again. Others believe the Spanish winger, who tends to underestimate his opponents, is simply arrogant, and his words could come back to haunt Barça. In the quarter-finals of UEFA’s flagship competition, the Blaugranas will face Borussia Dortmund, last season’s finalists.
Similarly, Real Madrid will have a tough challenge against Arsenal, who are also considered favourites. Avoiding unnecessary talk, Carlo Ancelotti’s team will once again aim to silence their critics, as they did against Manchester City in the play-offs and Atlético Madrid in the round of 16. We’ll cross our fingers and see how this edition unfolds, with the final set to take place in Germany this June.
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